From left: OMA PANDAY, LAWRENCE DUPREY, BASDEO
PANDAY and JACK WARNER.

from WASA, with his upbeat and at times controversial perspective on things.

And then there was Agatha, whom they does call Gyatah, but not I.

Agatha, that smooth-skinned, lovely ebony Daughter of Africa, a package of succulence and sexiness, with the greatest legs you would ever see in shorts, poom poom or otherwise, to make mankind drool and drive Rudevin almost out of his mind.

Not to mention her rudely threatening bam bam, which could cause many, many men to break their fixed deposit for her.

The bottle of Old Oak White rum was already down to half in no time flat, the barman was on stand-by with another one, having been assured that this one was not a “trust”, the pleasantries had been gotten out of the way, and the politics was hot in the air, with plenty of this, that and the other … until Rudevin intervened.

The Rude One poured a real “fat pants” drink that was almost a whole “petit quart”, downed it whap, wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, rocked back in his chair, belched a loud breeah and with a look of innocence, put it to me:

“So Flags, what you think about Lawrence Duprey, the billionaire bossman of CL Financial Holdings, and how he gave Basdeo Panday’s wife, Oma Panday, over a million dollars, which was put in the now famous London bank account?”

This was a reference to the current trial of former PM Panday for failing to disclose the money to the Integrity Commission.

Well, from the time Rudevin say so, if you see how commotion break out at the table.

Is now argument and kakalaylay start, the likes of some of which cannot be repeated because the matter is sub judice and judgment from Magistrate McNicolls is expected on April 24.

Hear Rudevin: “Duprey, according to the evidence, say he gave the $1.2 million to Oma, unbeknownst to his good friend, the Bas, as a scholarship for Panday’s two daughters, who were studying in England.

“And then he come back and say the money was given as ‘financial assistance’.

“I have no problem with that, you hear.

“The man gave a helping hand.”

At this point, Rampee quickly jumped in. “Duprey is a man of integrity and I believe he was straightforward with his story, so I don’t know why all them PNM fanatics want to think a-how.

“Why they don’t go and watch what kinda corruption and cronyism and nepotism going on in the country?

“I, too, believe that Duprey lent a helping hand when it was badly needed.”

Black Pat was not one to let this pass by just so.

Hear the PNM: “I agree, everybody agree, the whole of TnT agree that the old Bas is in need of help and Duprey, as a good friend came forward with his hand, the Helping Hand. Nothing wrong with that.

“Throughout history, good friends have come forward and filled the breach. Ah lie?

“So nothing wrong with that.

“But what I really want to know is this.

“Why Oma didn’t go to Jack Warner for help?

“Jack is a close friend of the family and has money to burn.

“A million dollars is chicken feed money for Jack to give.

“So why didn’t this happen?

“Because Warner is a Black man?”

Well, is now Gunbelt jumped in: “Why allyuh have to bring race in everything?

The old Bas was a man in need, and Duprey was a friend indeed.

“He stepped up to the plate and gave the old warhorse a helping hand.

“That is what you call a true, true friend, not so?

“And furthermore, Duprey said he and Oma used to talk about business, because she was a businesswoman. He even said they travelled together and were in some places together. So what?

“Duprey was the fittest man to lend a helping hand. Not so?

“I am sure that even though Panday, as the husband, didn’t know about the million-dollar gift at the time, he would have agreed subsequently with the ‘help out’ that Duprey was giving him.

“When an old man is that stage of weakness, as the Bas is, political, financial or otherwise, he could really do with a helping hand.

“Any big man will tell you so.”

Well breds, the Posse argued and consumed copious liquors and carried on until Agatha intervened with a passing reference to a new party that Gerald Yetming is setting up with university lecturer Dr. Kirk Meighoo: “I really love this man Yetming and I bound to vote for him.

“Just look at the man, nah!

“He does look like a powerful Chinese warlord. Look at how he does dress so handsomely.

“He is the best-dressed politician in the history of this country.

“He is very educated and he have money, too.

“Yetming could lie down on my bed anytime.

“I will put out my man for him.

“I never see a Chinee man sweet so.

“And I could take a helping hand from him anytime!”

Heh! Heh! Heh!

Then Agatha’s face turned sour as she continued: “But you see that next one, Dr. Meighoo? I don’t think I could trust him in the politics at all.

“That man, when I watch him on the TV, have a kinda oily look and he remind me of them long-time Indian, who used to come to town from the lagoons of Barrackpore and San Francique, with their hair dripping with coconut oil.

“This Meighoo look like he will not only be a snake oil seller but a coconut oil politician!”

Kyah! Kyah! Kyah!

Space is running out on me, but before I go, I want to acknowledge all those people, high and low, who have been calling me, meeting me on the streets and in bars and other places of repute and ill repute, and urging me to bring the column back.

All I want to say is it has only just re-started and mankind, you ain’t seen nothing yet!

Especially the doctor at the San Fernando General Hospital, who has been leaking sensitive, con-fidential files to certain elements in the media, with malice aforethought.

This “UNC doctor”, a low, vicious Money Satan and bandit to his own kind, known now as The Mysterious Dr. Low the Leaker, is said to be trying desperately with his high-up pardners at the hospital to prevent an investigation and effect a cover-up, which they are quick to do in highly embarrassing and explosive situations.

But more will be coming on this, with revelations about those who may know and want to cover-up … until real fire is lighted under their backside!

To my few fans, including that lovely, dark-skinned, out-of-this-world Dougla, the incomparably sexy, sweet-like-a-sugar plum Debra Wanser, Guardian News Editor (take dat!), and to my multitudinous detractors, I say be of good cheer, stay up, and till next week …

Keep those flags flying!